Injuries force the Knicks to plot a new course facing the Pacers
Less than 24 hours after their gripping 121-117 win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals best-of-seven series, the Knicks publicly revealed that center Mitchell Robinson, who underwent surgery to his left ankle in December and missed nearly 50 games before returning in late March, has a stress injury in the same ankle is effectively out for the rest of this season.
Robinson sat out Game 4 on April 28 versus the Philadelphia 76ers due to soreness in his surgically repaired left ankle in an opening round series the Knicks ultimately won 4-2. Robinson will be re-evaluated in 6-8 weeks. The Knicks faced the Pacers in Game 2 last night (Wednesday) with Games 3 and 4 in Indiana tomorrow and Sunday respectively.
Injuries have been a major storyline and subplot for the Knicks as well as other playoff teams. New York’s All-Star and All-NBA forward Julius Randle had his season end of January 27 when he suffered a dislocated right shoulder versus the Miami Heat at the Garden. Then in Game 4 against the 76ers, key reserve forward Bojan Bogdanovic was injured diving for loose ball when his left foot was caught under Philadelphia forward Nicolas Batum, who also plunged to the court pursuing the ball. Bogdanovic subsequently had season-ending surgery on his foot.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau had already constricted the Knicks rotation to eight players, with Robinson and guard Miles “Deuce” McBride allocated the bulk of the minutes off of the bench with forward Precious Achiuwa, who has been highly productive when called upon, experiencing a markedly reduced role this postseason. Achiuwa played in only Games 3 and 4 in the Knicks’ previous series against the 76ers and just four minutes in Game 1 facing the Pacers. The Pacers bench had a massive advantage on Monday, as their four reserves outscored Robinson, McBride and Achiuwa 46-3.
Now, by necessity, Achiuwa will once again need to be a prominent piece to the Knicks altered lineup and Thibodeau will need to reach deeper down his bench as the series progresses. The challenge will be a continuation of the test of the Knicks’ will, resolve and physical fortitude as they have battled attrition for three-plus months.
The Knicks starters already log exhaustive minutes and logically will begin to show signs of fatigue. But guard Donte DiVincenzo, who played 44 minutes in Game 1 against Indiana, asserted the cumulative allotment has neither been prohibitive nor overly taxing.
“I think it’s maintainable,” said DiVincenzo. “Come in tomorrow, watch some film, take care of your body and be ready to go the next day. At this time of the year, it’s less about the wear and tear of your body [and] more about preparing for the next game mentally.
“Watching film, adjusting that way, kinda walking through plays rather than running through stuff. So minutes aren’t a factor right now…Minutes can fluctuate throughout the game [and] throughout the series.”
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